Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted April 11, 2015 Gold FFM Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Chris Man after my own heart - no point having one if you don't use it. My old chap who was a mechanic all his life always said a nice higher mileage car is better than an old low miler...... It's been used and is capable of use.......mine will be Cam belt booked in the 2017 diary!!!! Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaycully Posted April 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 This is heartwarming....i was beginning to think it's all a money pit. My enthusiasm has been reignited. Thanks chaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted April 11, 2015 Gold FFM Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Jay It will cost you money to keep on the road be under no doubt. If you can use a spanner it will help keep the costs down. The guys on here are superb and will do their best to help with advice, parts, tech docs etc........as well as some days out. Worth the £20 for the FFM If you fancy a nose at my car - just to see what an on the road entry level ones like pop me a pm Cheers Barry Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisJ Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Hi Jay It can be a money pit if you let things slip (or don't use the car). But what 25-30 year old car wouldn't be? However, get it right to start with and then keep it right and you should be fine. I don't do any maintenance myself, but I do have a budget that I'd hope not to go over for annual maintenance - which funnily enough is the same figure that I was spending on maintenance with B&C back in the 1980/90s. The smile on your face every time you look at the car, let alone get in and drive it, will be worth it. I can still remember the feeling when my Esprit's previous owner took me out for the test drive, and floored it at 60mph (on the M25). I think it has later (S4?) wheels on it. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaycully Posted April 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Chris I can maintain the car and I'm happy tinkering, that's part of the enjoyment for me. I'm looking forward to having one on my drive, just got to find one. They are all a 6hr round trip at the moment but if I'm going to find a good one then I've got to travel. I'd love a white one but they are rare as hens teeth with the cream interior. The search continues! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted April 11, 2015 Gold FFM Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 I'm off to spend another couple of hours with spanner on mine.......£30 worth of pipe and fluid for the dreaded clutch red hose issue.... These motors are such fun......... Chris - could you ever imagine being without one now? Ipswich not far and it'd increase in value faster than a Stevens http://www.lotusforsale.com/ads/1981-esprit-s3-in-essex-blue/ Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaycully Posted April 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 It's nice but would like the S4 and I don't own a trailer to get it home. But the S3 is definitely an option if I can't find the one I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Blanchard Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 I've owned my Esprit for 13 years and it's never broken down on me. Find a car owned by a Lotus enthusiast and you should be ok. Quote Mark www.lotusespritturbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaycully Posted April 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 That's my plan Mark, problem is they never want to let them go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisJ Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Barry - I've had one for more than half my life, and 25% of the cars I've owned have been Lotus - one Esprit & two Excels. When I was abroad, I used to imagine driving the Esprit on the roads out there. I've had two proper brake downs. One an RAC trailer home when the big front of engine water hose blew in 1989, and the other last year when the handbrake kept on coming on and was followed home by the RAC man. Both simple fixes - I even did the water hose myself (with a bit of help from a friend). Something seems off about that S3. 6000 miles in 18 years, currently on 78000 miles, engine rebuild @ 70000, so at least 18 years ago. A "few" things to sort out for the MOT - that old story. If it's a only "a few", then get it fixed before you sell it. Crap photos. I think this car might be a money pit. Cheapish though. Jay - you will find one, and when you do and have bought it, 5 more will suddenly pop up for sale I agree that white is the best colour, but with huggy bear cloth, not leather. :ice:and here are some for sale G car close to you X180 N/A Stephens Esprit Turbo Come along to Brooklands on 10th May or Duxford on 3rd May - or both. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaycully Posted April 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 I'm hoping so Chris and I'm hoping to roll up in my new Esprit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisJ Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC007 Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 My advice is to have a chat with Gerald at GST Performance, Newmarket. Although he doesn't sell Esprit's, he does look after a great number of them. He's most likely to have knowledge of an owner who might be thinking of selling. That's how I found mine! Good luck, Brendan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaycully Posted April 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Brendan Great advice, I've just fired off an email Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisJ Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 plus if you obtain one that Gerald has been looking after, it should be a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike6 Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Just to paint a more balanced picture, mine has been a real problem. As soon as you touch one thing something else in the line goes wrong. I do all my own mechanics but have spent an absolute fortune in parts over the last 6 years of ownership. Just when you think nothing else can go wrong the car finds another way to let me down. I could give a long list of examples but suffice it to say you can be lucky or unlucky and it doesnt always link back to how much you have paid for the car or whether it comes with a big batch of bills. These cars get bodged but I certainly agree you would have better luck buying through a Lotus expert or a club member. Expect to pay out whatever you buy and you will not be disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1982S3 Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 It's nice but would like the S4 and I don't own a trailer to get it home. But the S3 is definitely an option if I can't find the one I want. Hi Jay. I noticed that you live in Derby which is close to where I live. Happy to show you around my 1982 S3 if it would give you a better idea of what you might be after and what to look out for. Just send me a PM if interested. Regards Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibs Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 To balance you balancing post Mike you did buy your Esprit very cheaply iirc. As we tell people all the time, there's no such thing as a cheap Esprit so you either do the dough up front or spend it on fixing it up. Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaycully Posted April 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 What would your minimum cost be Bibs for a good esprit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibs Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 It's not that easy to draw a line but anything under £10k nowadays will need work I'd have thought. Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaycully Posted April 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Yeah, That's what I was thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted April 12, 2015 Gold FFM Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 And some of the stuff over 10k also needs work doing to it!!! It really depends on balancing your expectations as well. Fun for the money - can't beat it - well not in this country with the missus about!!!! Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaycully Posted April 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 I'm going to have a look at a few..see what I get for my money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 plus if you obtain one that Gerald has been looking after, it should be a good one. how about this one for sale owned by one of Geralds mechanics http://www.lotusforsale.com/ads/1989-lotus-esprit-x180-na/ Quote hindsight: the science that is never wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaycully Posted April 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Pete, looks a solid car but unfortunately the colour is not to my taste. Good price though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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